Joe Joyce vs Alexander Ustinov Betting Odds and Prediction

Unbeaten British heavyweight Joe Joyce will be taking on veteran Alexander Ustinov of Russia in a 10-round bout in Stevenage, England this Saturday, May 18th. Joyce last fought in February when he stopped former former WBC Champion Bermane Stiverne in the sixth round, Ustinov’s last outing came in November when he was stopped in the ninth round by Michael Hunter for the vacant WBA International Heavyweight Crown. The fight can be seen live in the USA on ESPN+ and fans in the UK can catch it on BT Sport.

Joyce vs Ustinov Betting Odds

My Pick

Joyce is 33 years old and didn’t turn pro until late in 2017. The native of London enjoyed a fine amateur career with gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 European Games. He also took home a silver from the 2016 Olympics in Brazil in the super-heavyweight division when he lost the gold-medal match to Tony Yoka of France. Joyce owns a perfect record of 8-0 with all eight of his wins coming by way of knockout. Joyce is 6-feet-6-inches tall with an 80-inch reach.

It’s obvious he has some power in his fists but his opponents so far have been Stiverne, Ian Lewison, Rudolf Jozic, Donnie Palmer, Lenroy Thomas, Ivica Bacurin, Iago Kiladze and Joe Hanks. However, each one of them did have winning records. His boxing skills haven’t been on show very often as he has four first-round Kos on his record as well as one in the second stanza and he’s boxed just 25 rounds since turning pro. The Commonwealth Champion also won the vacant WBA Gold Heavyweight Title with his win over Stiverne and his win over Hanks was for the vacant WBA Continental Heavyweight Belt.

Ustinov is now 42 years old and has lost his last two fights as Manuel Charr also beat him by unanimous decision for the vacant WBA Heavyweight Title in November of 2017. He enters the ring with a mark of 34-3 with 25 Kos. Ustinov is a big guy as he’s an inch taller than Joyce at 6-foot-7 and has weights over 300 lbs in a few of his previous bouts. He turned pro back in 2005 and has fought 190 rounds since. Some of his better opponents have been Hunter, Charr, Michael Sprott, Monte Barrett, Jason Gavern, David Tua, Travis Walker, Julius Long Chauncy Welliver and Maurice Harris.

Ustinov has plenty of experience and also possesses pretty good power with a current knockout ratio of 68 per cent. His only other career loss came to Kubrat Pulev by 11th-round stoppage in 2012 and it was the first time he was knocked out. Since turning pro he’s won the the European Boxing Association, vacant WBA International, the vacant WBA Pan African, the vacant German International, and the vacant IBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight Straps.

Prediction…

This is another big fight for Joyce since it’s his second straight contest against a recognizable opponents. Although it’s one who’s 42 years old and has lost his last two bouts. Still, Joyce has just eight fights to his name and it’s another stepping stone in the right direction. This is a solid test since Ustinov’s a big guy with power and experience. Joyce has no option but to beat him if he hopes to be a legitimate contender for a world title shot. The jury’s still out on the Londoner and even though he should win this fight I don’t think it’s going to be easy for him.